the length of synopsis

[write2livelive2write]

What's the length of a short synopsis, a synopsis, and a detailed synopsis respectively? Thanks in advance.

[Carmy]

In general, most agents will tell you the length they require, usually by number of pages.

[write2livelive2write]

In general, most agents will tell you the length they require, usually by number of pages.

unfortunately they don't on their web pages. That's why I am confused.

[Khazarkhum]

I had always heard 3-7 pages, depending on the book. But I have seen some people request 1-2 pages, while others say it's OK to go to 30. :Shrug:

[dantem42]

Short I believe is one page single-spaced, if Times Roman 12. Two pages if Courier 12. The max I'd go is two pages single-spaced TR 12 in the States. But European agents often like longer synopses.

[astonwest]

If they don't specify, my guess is they're requesting the 1-page variety.

When I received a request for additional material a few months back (still waiting to hear from them after I sent it), they also requested a long synopsis of 3-8 pages.

So, on my future works, I plan to write synopses of various lengths before sending it out.

The night following that request was the longest of my life...being as how I had to write a full 3-8 page synopsis to send. ;)

[Carrie R.]

I never understood the use of the 1 page synopsis since my hook itself was a tetch long so having the rest of the page wouldn't have added much. My book was 70k when I subbed it and I had a 7 page double-spaced synopsis. One agent wanted a three pager (optional) and I just opted not to send it (bad of me, I know). A short synopsis I would put at 1-3 pages; a synopsis or detailed synopsis I'd put at 1 page for every 10k.

The agent just wants to make sure that you have a good arc to your story and that aliens don't land in chapter 6 (if they're not supposed to) and change the whole book.

[Khazarkhum]

I don't really understand the 1 page, either. Isn't that pretty much the query? OK, you give the whole plot, but it's going to come out like this:
Two people meet. They have similar tastes. They like each other. Then stuff
happens to them. More stuff happens to them. They fall in love. Still more
stuff happens. They get together. The end.

[dantem42]

I don't really understand the 1 page, either. Isn't that pretty much the query? OK, you give the whole plot, but it's going to come out like this:
Two people meet. They have similar tastes. They like each other. Then stuff
happens to them. More stuff happens to them. They fall in love. Still more
stuff happens. They get together. The end.

An agent can tell a lot from a good 1-page (single spaced) synopsis. Especially, have you developed a plot that has some shred of originality? Do the characters have some interesting and unusual aspects? How do you deal with the beginning and the ending? Obviously there's a lot you can't tell, but many agents do find them useful. The query letter is a bit more broad, it may address issues like similarities to other works out there (including ones the agent has sold) and so on.

[Khazarkhum]

An agent can tell a lot from a good 1-page (single spaced) synopsis. Especially, have you developed a plot that has some shred of originality? Do the characters have some interesting and unusual aspects? How do you deal with the beginning and the ending? Obviously there's a lot you can't tell, but many agents do find them useful. The query letter is a bit more broad, it may address issues like similarities to other works out there (including ones the agent has sold) and so on.

I understand the need for the synopsis. I think, however, you will be able to tell a lot more from the writing itself.

I was once at a writer's conference where an agent giving a panel said that synopses tend to make all novels sound stupid. He didn't care for them, but he wanted to see it so he could be certain that the book was finished.